Instruments such as your Afore or a Cetes Directo account could put that small amount to work so that it does not literally end up in ashes. Figures from the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (Inegi) show that those who consume two packs a week spend more than 4,000 pesos a year on cigarettes.
But, leaving harmful habits is not an easy thing; smoking, consuming cafeteria coffees, taking a taxi, are just some of the expenses that you can cut, but that are part of your daily routine, for this reason, we present you some tips to avoid eliminating them, but to prevent ant expenses from becoming in an uncontrolled plague.
1.- Reduce your emissions: When something becomes routine, it is no longer enjoyed in the same way as if it is an occasional event, in the same way, smokers lose sensitivity as the number of cigarettes increases. The American organization Cancer.org explains that nicotine addiction is a physical and mental issue, so the need to smoke is only as great as the smoker allows it to be. Therefore, although quitting the habit can result in a series of failed attempts, try reducing the number of cigarettes per day, over time changing this habit can be reflected not only in your wallet, but also in your physical condition.
2.- Get up early: For some, taking a taxi is synonymous with additional expense, but also with comfort, however, it is not the same to go out in a hurry and take a pirate taxi that does not have a properly calibrated taximeter than to take a local taxi whose meter works properly. Compare when you pay more in taxis, even if you plan your outings you can have only one trusted taxi driver with a fixed rate, which, in addition to saving you some pesos, will avoid unnecessary risks.
3.- Organize your cash needs: One of the expenses that can become a headache is the commissions for cash withdrawal, since in some ATMs they exceed 30 pesos. To avoid these outlays, you can plan how much cash you will need for an outing with your friends, a meal, or paying for parking at a shopping center. Also consider that many banks already have correspondents, and you can make free withdrawals in self-service stores, find out if your bank has this figure and in which establishments you can make transactions.
4.- Become a barista: According to the organizers of the Expo Café event, a kilo of coffee can cost between 80 and 120 pesos and each kilo can serve around 100 cups. Consider how much it costs to prepare a good quality coffee in your coffee maker and how much it costs to buy it in a coffee shop, multiply the difference in prices by the number of coffees you consume in a week and you will see that with that amount it is enough for you, at least, to go to the cinema, it’s not about changing your lifestyle, just about making your habits more sustainable.
5.- Incorporate all your expenses into the budget: The ant expenses become more evident when you incorporate them into your plans, thus, the tips, the additional tastes in the supermarket and the payment of parking spaces become tangible sums as soon as you start recording them. You can start with a weekly budget in which you recapitulate the savings you generated. If you keep depositing those small sums in an instrument that you cannot use, you will see how over time it becomes a little pocketbook that could get you out of trouble.